Whitchurch  (Hampshire) WaW were delighted, if a little puzzled when they were approached to participate in the pilot episode for a series of podcasts entitled ‘Choir Walks’, a new initiative of ex. TV Producer Sarah Dean, featuring attractive walking trails with ‘hidden churches’ that have interesting stories to tell.

Jackie Browne, Coordinator for Whitchurch WaW said, “some amusing conversations followed the initial enquiry as members of our group speculated as to what might be required of them… some were, as they put it, ‘game for a laugh’ whilst others were rather less confident, but there was audible relief when Sarah explained that we would not be expected to provide the singing voices”!

  The idea for ‘Choir Walks’ had actually come from her Dad who is a very active amateur singer and choir director, “it’s really his passion for this sort of music, and his idea of doing walks to ‘hidden’ churches that started it all – I am an ex-TV producer, so my job has always been to identify stories that might be interesting to others, and I knew that when he mentioned it, it could be a good approach for a podcast. So here we are”!

This pilot episode was recorded on a bright autumn day along the lovely Whitchurch Mill Trail and was led by Wendy Helsby a local WaW footpath volunteer, walk leader and member of the Whitchurch History Society and the choral singing was recorded in the quaint 13th century St. Nicholas Church Freefolk, now looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust. Please do settle down and give the podcast a listen, Whitchurch are delighted with the result and the choral singing at the end of the recording is just beautiful. The River Test and its French connection – Choir Walks | Acast

For further information please email choirwalks@gmail.com.